§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the trend of death from cancer; what assessment he has made as to its causes; and if he will increase funding for cancer research programmes.
§ Mr. StewartThe table shows the number of deaths from cancer for the zero to 64 age group and for persons of all ages in the period 1975 to 1992.
Age 0–64 All ages Year Males Females Males Females 1975 2,572 2,249 7,056 6,011 1976 2,579 2,305 7,165 6,250 1977 2,546 2,272 6,902 6,286 1978 2,573 2,385 7,158 6,566 1979 2,450 2,350 7,357 6,550 1980 2,374 2,248 7,194 6,501 1981 2,324 2,213 7,298 6,639 1982 2,455 2,249 7,315 6,762 1983 2,476 2,274 7,325 6,885 1984 2,386 2,398 7,376 6,923 1985 2,417 2,247 7,420 7,035 1986 2,345 2,199 7,443 7,091 1987 2,349 2,158 7,563 7,087 1988 2,332 2,156 7,518 7,202 1989 2,179 2,220 7,593 7,324 1990 2,219 2,163 7,608 7,349 1991 2,205 2,040 7,589 7,287 1992 2,133 2,115 7,796 7,336 Although there has been an increase in the number of deaths of both men and women of all ages, the trend in relation to the under-65s is downwards. This is encouraging in view of the target of a 15 per cent. reduction in cancer mortality in that age group between 1986 and the year 2000.
Mortality rates associated with some childhood and young adult cancers have declined substantially as a result of advances in chemotherapy. There has also been a modest decline in mortality associated with those cancers which are amenable to treatment. Mortality rates for cancers which become symptomatic only at an advanced stage have remained constant. The main increase in cancer-related mortality in women is lung cancer. In men, the most significant increase has been in the incidence of cancer of the prostate. The causes of all types of cancer are however constantly monitored, primarily through the Scottish cancer registration system.
Funding of cancer research remains high on our list of priorities, and has been increased significantly by the establishment of the Scottish cancer therapy network, which aims to ensure that all patients suffering from cancer in Scotland receive the best and most up-to-date treatment available.